New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, June 5, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 193, 5 June 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, June 5, 1847.

The expedition which hus just departed for Wanganui is perhaps one of the most important measures adopted by the local Government in this district. A considerable force is now collected at Wanganui, amount, ing to upwards of 450 soldiers, besides the auxiliary force of sailors and marines drafted from the Calliope and Inflexible, and whatever assistance may be derived from the cooperation of the friendly natives who accompanied the expedition from Wellington. Whether the result may be commensurate with the importance of the previous preparation must at present remain a matter of uncertainty. If, as is probable, the rebels, on the accession of so large a reinforcement to the garrison under Capt. Laye's command, should disperse and retire into the hilly and broken country in the interior beyond the reach of pursuit, the blow will be suspended, but if, grown more confident from their past excesses, they should determine to remain, and afford the troops a favourable opportunity of attacking them, we hope they will receive such a chastisement proportioned to their crimes, as will strike a wholesome terror into the disaffected natives of this district and teach them to respect the authority of the Government. The murder of Mr. Gilfillan's family exceeds in the savage atrocity of its detail those perpetrated on the Hutt, while their daring attack on the town of Wanganui in open day under the fire of the stockade, the plundering of the houses, the driving away and slaughter of the cattle of the outsettlers, and wanton destruction of their property evince an increased boldness and confidence which call for signal punishment in order to prevent a repetition of these outrages. There can be no doubt that, the proceedings of the expedition will be regarded with the deepest mi crest by the neighbouring tribes, and their future conduct towards the settlers will be materially influenced by the event. At Waikanae and Otaki there are evident symptons of growing dis- , trust and suspicion, and at Taranaki, as will be seen from our correspondent's communication, the natives are again annoying the settlers and would be ready, on the intelligence of any unfavourable news, to imitate in that settlement the scenes lately enacted at Wanganui. Such being the state of feeling among the Natives along the coast, from Wellington to Taranaki, we repeat the present measure adopted by his Excellency, even if no con-flict-should take place, must be attended with important consequences. It must convince the Natives that the Governor is determined to punish any attempt at rebellion, and it has given the settlers another proof of his earnest desire to do all in his power to afford them protection, and relieve them from the evils to which they are exposed

from the rapacity or hostility of the neighbouring tribes. And though the attempt to pursue them may be attended with considerable difficulty, yet by continually harassing them, by breaking up their cultivations, and driving them into the interior, the interruption to trade, the loss of the comforts they formerly obtained from the settlers, the want of food would soon reduce the majority to submission and foj"ce them to be quiet. But the capture or death of Rangihaeata, Mamoku, and the other promoters of these disturbances will be the only effectual means of securing the permanent tranquillity of the district.

On Thursday afternoon the expedition against the rebels at Wanganui embarked on board H. M. Steamer Inflexible. We believe the following is a correct account of the officers and men engaged in the expedition : — Lieut. -Col. M'Cleverty, the commanding officer in the Southern Division. J. G. Courtenay, Esq., Staff Surgeon, and Mr. Masters, Acting Brigade-Major, Capt. O'Connell, Lieut. M'Coy, Ensign Thelwall. and 116 rank and file of the 65th regt., a part of this force was stationed at Fort Richmond at the Hutt bridge under Capt. O'Connell, and the remainder of the company have been employed as a road party on the Porirua road under Lieutenant M'Coy; — Lieut. Collinson of the Royal Engineers, and the Hon. A. Yelverton and the remainder of the company of Artillery stationed in Wellington ; the greater part of this force under Captain Henderson having proceeded to Wanganui in the Calliope last week. Forty men of the Calliope under the command of Lieut. Kane, embarked to act j with the gun-boats on the river, with a detachment of the marines under Lieutenant Fosbrooke ; the pinnace of the Calliope has also been sent by the Inflexible. The following officers from the Calliope have also joined the expedition : — Assistant- Surgeon Dr. Ross, and Messrs. Nicholas and Carnegie, midshipmen; — {Lieut. Beresford, and Mr. Polkinghorn, master's mate, remained I with Capt. Stanley at Wanganui ; Lieut. Holmes has been in command of the gun-boat since it has been stationed in that jiver.) Mr. A.G.Strode,DeputylnspectorofPolice,joined the expedition, and thirty-five natives from the pas in Wellington under E Tako and Moturoa, who will act as scouts and be useful in obtaining information of the enemy's movements. Te Wherowhero and Tamate Waka have accompanied the expedition. The afternoon was exceedingly calm and favourable for the embarkation of the troops which was effected with the greatest regularity and expedition. His Excellency embarked about four o'clock, and shortly afterwards the Inflexible left the harbour for Wanganui. The bustle of embarkation excited considerable interest, and attracted a crowd of settlers about the wharf to witness the departure of the expedition. The Star of China has been chartered by the Government and will sail for Wanganui to day with supplies and coals for the troops.

Lieut. Elliott and a detachment of fifty men of the 99th regt. have proceeded to Fort Richmond, at the Hutt bridge, in the place of Capt. O'ConnelTs detachment of the 65th regt., which formed part of the expedition to Wanganui.

The intended korero between Te Wherowhero and Tamate Waka and the chiefs of Waikanae and Otaki is to take place at Waikanae, William King the Waikanae chief having" shown a great disinclination to come to Wellington. The Inflexible will call at Waikanae on her way back from Wanganui when his Excellency will take an opportunity of seeing these chiefs, and the interview between them and the chiefs from the North will take place.

As a proof of the mildness of the season, .and in illustration of the difference between the winter in New Zealand and in England, we may mention that green peas were this week gathered from Capt. O'Connell's garden near the Hutt bridge.

The Governor Grey arrived last night from Wanganui, which she left on Thursday afternoon. The rebel natives had retired up the river, having previously burnt Mr. Nixon's and Mr. Bell's Houses, and also some pas on the banks of the river to prevent them from affording shelter to the troops in the event of their pursuing them. A good many head of cattle belonging to the settlers had been recovered from the rebels. There are several female passengers in the Governor Grey the wives or relations of Wanganui settlers.

The South Australian papers, which we have lately received, affect to treat with rjdicule, aad attempt to throw discredit on the state*

raentss published in the Launceston Examiner and Portland Guardian, of the great mortality which prevailed at Adelaide last summer, in consequence of the intense heat of the weather, and impute these reports to the jealousy or envy of the colonies in which these statements are published. A letter was received in Wellington by the samepost which brought us the papers above referred to, from a respectable settler who went to Adelaide about twelve months since, in which it is stated that a hundred and thirty children died at Adelaide in one week, from a fever caused by the intensely hot weather; that several persons had dropped down dead from the heat ; and that opthalmia was a very common complaint there. The writer adds, as soon as the troubles in New Zealand are over, and confidence in some degree restored, those who have left it for Adelaide will be too glad to return ; and that after the general excitement which exists at Adelaide on the subject of mining has passed away, they will be joined by many others.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. Rowland Davis, Mr. P. M. Hervey, Mr. P. D. Hogg, and Mr. M'Donald, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Messrs. Johnson & Moore's store, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the sth June, 1847, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 7th June. The Superintending Committee will meet at Barrett's Hotel, on Monday evening next, at 8 o'clock.